Range construction



April 18, 1939. G. H. BROWN RANGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 18, 1937 Patented Apr. 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,154.1:4 mos cons'rauc'non Gordon .11. Brown, Detroit, Mica, asaignor to Eleotromalter, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a cor-pow tion of Michigan Application October 18, 1937, Serial No. 169,554

11- Claims.

The present invention relates in general to a range construction, and is more specifically concerned with a novel construction of the range cooking table top and back splash wall.

In the manufacture of cooking table tops for ranges, it has heretofore been the usual practice to die-form a flat sheet into an integral structure embodying a main top portion and rear splash board with a marginal edge flange. So long as a narrow edge flange was utilized and the back splash board maintained relatively low, the dieforming could be carried out economically with only a substantially small waste of material.

During the time that the table tops were being manufactured in the foregoing manner, it became evident to the manufacturers that it would be commercially advantageous to increase the height of the splash board, as well as the width of the marginal flange, particularly the flange at the top of the back splash board so that it could be utilized as a back shelf. It was found, however, that such a change could not be accomplished with the shallow dies then being used, and that it would be necessary to utilize very expensive deep dies which would necessitate wasting a large part of the material. Naturally, this would result in a very high manufacturing cost, which would be undesirable.

With a view to securing the aforementioned commercial advantages and decrease the cost of manufacture, the present invention proposes to eliminate the marginal flange at the ends of the back splash board so that the splash board may be formed simply by a folding operation instead of a stamping or die-forming operation. In so doing there is no limitation as to the amount of metal which may be turned over to form the back shelf, and this shelf can be made any desired width. Moreover, such a construction eliminates the trouble heretofore experienced due to damage of the marginal flange by excessive drawing at the juncture of the cooking table top and back splash board.

Since the construction embodied in the present invention affects a back splash board having its ends terminating in a raw or unturned edge, it is proposed to provide at this location a casting or stamping which may have some utility other than that of simply forming a constructural part of the cooking table top; This casting or stamping is therefore formed so as to provide a receptacle which may be utilized for receiving condiment containers and the like.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a cooking table top, showing the position of the rear corner brackets disposed at the ends of the back splash board;

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the corner bracket showing its details of construction and the manner in which it is cooperatively associated with the table top proper, the back splash board and the rear shelf of the range top;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the cooking table top, showing one manner in which the corner bracket may be 15 secured in position, taken substantially on line III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a flat, metallic sheet such as used for the construction of the cooking table top embodied in the present invention.

As shown on the drawing:

Due to the difficulties met with in endeavoring to die-form a cooking table top from a flat sheet of material to produce a main top portion, a back splash board and a rear shelf of desirable width, the present invention contemplates the use of a flat metallic blank of sheet material as disclosed in Figure 4.

This-blank comprises a substantially rectangular flat sheet generally indicated at Ill. The corners of this sheet at the ends of one edge thereof are cut-out as shown at H and I2 to form a main table top portion l3 with a contracted extension l4 extending from the main portion on the side which is to form the rear of the table top.

By means of a suitable die, the main top portion may be stamped and have its marginal edges turned along the fold lines as indicated by dotted lines at l5, l6 and I1 respectively to form the side and front flanges of the table top. The extension l4 may now be formed simply by a folding operation. By bending this extension along the fold lines I8 and IS, the back splash board and rear shelf at the top of the splash board may be effected without any limitation as to the heighth of the splash board or the width of the rear shelf.

cooking table top so formed, it is proposed to provide a corner bracket as generally indicated at 24. These brackets are arranged as right and left and provide a receptacle having utility other than that of simply forming a constructural part of the table top. For example, these brackets may be utilized for receiving condiment containers andthe like. In addition, the brackets enhance the appearance of the finished table top as they may be cast, stamped or otherwise formed from some metal which may be of such finish as to form a pleasing contrast to the enameled surfaces of the table top, back splash board and rear shelf.

More specifically, the corner bracket may comprise a bottom or floor portion which forms an extension of the table top proper 20. On the side of this bottom towards the back splash board and rear shelf, the bracket is provided with an inner wall 26 which cooperates with the associated edges of the back splash board and rear shelf and forms a closure.

The outer edge margin of the bottom 25 is downwardly deflected to form a depending flange portion 21 corresponding to the flange 2| of the table top portion proper and forming an extension thereof. This flange 21 is carried rearwardly and rounded to effect a rounded corner and continued into a back wall portion 28 which is disposed substantially at the rear edge of the back shelf. The uppermost edge of the wall 28 is substantially in the plane of the back shelf and at its outermost end is rounded as shown at 29. Thisedge is continued to form the upper edge 30 of the outer side wall. The edge 30 may also be downwardly curved and terminate in the plane of the bottom 25 at some desirable point toward the front of the bracket.

The front edge of the flange 21, the bottom 25, and the front edge of the inner wall 26 as well as its top edge are provided with a suitable groove for receiving the associated edge portions of the flange 2|, the table top portion 20, the back splash wall 22 and the rear shelf 23. Manifestly, the front edges of the bracket as well as the top edge of the inner wall 26 may conform to the configuration of the parts of the table top.

The corner bracket may be secured to the table top structure in any desired manner. One way in which this may be done is to provide the associated ends of the back splash board and rear shelf with ears 3| and 32 which may form an abutment for the wall 26 and may be aper-' tured to receive screws as shown at 33 by means. of which the inner wall of the bracket may be secured to the lugs.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved method for forming a range cooking table top, wherein the back wall and rear shelf are formed by folding operations, thus eliminating any limitation as to the height of the by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A range top construction comprising a main body portion defining a cooking table, an integrally formed back splash board, and members disposed at the ends of said splash board defining utility receptacles forreceiving condiment containers and the like.

2. A range top construction comprising a dieformed main portion defining a. cooking table top, an integrally formed portion at the rear of the main portion foldable to define a back splash board, and a member at each end of the splash board connecting it with the table top portion proper.

3. A range top construction comprising a dieformed main portion defining a cooking table top, an integrally formed portion at the rear of the main portion foldable to define a rear splash board and a back shelf, and a reinforcing member disposed at either end of the splash board and rear shelf defining a utility receptacle.

4. In combination with a cooking table top, an integrally formed back splash board, and means at one end of said splash board defining a utility receptacle for a condiment container and. the like.

5. As an article of manufacture, a rear corner bracket for a table top construction having a rear wall terminating at its top in a rearwardly extending shelf, said bracket comprising walls defining a utility receptacle opening on its front substantially in the plane of the rear wall, and at its top substantially in the plane of the shelf.

6. In combination with a table top construction having a main top portion, an integrally formed rear back wall terminating at its top in a rearwardly extending portion, said table top being cut-out at one of its rear corners, and a corner bracket member adapted to be mounted in said cut-out corner, said bracket defining a utility receptacle.

7. In combination with a table top construction having a main top portion, an integrally formed rear wall terminating at its top in a defining a utility receptacle, said bracket engaging andfollowing the configuration of the table top portion, rear wall and shelf portion.

8. In a range construction, a cooking table top having turned dOWn flanges at each end, a rear wall extending upwardly from the table top and terminating in a. rearwardly extending surface defining a back shelf, said wall and shelf having their ends disposed inwardly with respect to the end flanges of the table top, means defining a utility receptacle at each end of the rear wall and shelf, said means comprising a side wall engaged by the ends of the rear wall and shelf, a bottom substantially in the plane of the table top, a rear wall disposed substantially at the rear edge of said shelf, and a second side wall disposed substantially in the plane of the associated end flange, said bottom and second side wall having their forward edges conforming sub stantially to the associated marginal end portions of the table top.

9. A range top adapted to be formed from an initially fiat sheet comprising a die-formed main top portion having a continuous depending flange extending along its ends and forward edges, the forward corners of said main portion being rounded, an integral upwardly folded poreach insert forming a continuation of the adjacent end of the depending flange and connecting with the adjacent end of the upwardly folded portion,

10. A range top adapted to be formed from an initially flat sheet comprising a die-formed main top portion having a continuous depending flange extending along its end and forward edges, the forward corners of said main portion being rounded, an integral upwardly folded portion at the rear of said main portion, inserts at the rear corners of the main portion, each insert forming a continuation of the adjacent end of the depending flange rnd connecting with the adjacent end of the upwardly folded portion, and means for removably securing said inserts.

11. A range top adapted to be formed from an initially flat sheet comprising aidie-formed main top portion having a continuous depending flange extending along its end and forward edges, the forward corners of said main portion being rounded, an integral upwardly folded portion at the rear of said main portion, inserts at the rear corners of the main portion, each insert forming a continuation of the adjacent end. of the depending flange and connecting with the adjacent end of the upwardly folded portion, and means for removably securing said inserts, each of said inserts defining a utility receptacle GORDON H. BROWN. 

